In response to the rising cost of medicines, a growing number of people with diabetes are spurning prescriptions and asking their physicians for lower-cost options, according to newly released government data.
To wit, among adults who were prescribed a diabetes medication in the past 12 months, 13.2% skipped dosages, took fewer dosages, or delayed filling a prescription in order to save money. And 24.4% asked their doctor for a lower-cost alternative. Women were more likely than men not take a medicine in order to lower their costs, although they were just as likely to seek a less expensive prescription.
Drilling down further, 18% of adults under age 65 were more likely not to take a medicine as prescribed so they could save money, compared with 7.2% of those 65 and older. More than a quarter of those younger than 65 were likelier to seek a cheaper prescription, compared with one-fifth of those were 65 years and older, according to the survey by the National Center for Health Statistics.
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Insulin costs are going up, but paychecks for most Americans are not. Why the insulin companies think folks can pay more for the same medication in that situation is a mystery to me.